Fire selects midfielder Atouba in draft

Yazid Atouba apparently made a big impression on Fire staffers watching potential MLS draftees work out last week in Florida.

The Fire made the 19-year-old Cameroon midfielder their lone selection in Thursday's MLS draft in Indianapolis.

"Yazid is a dynamic, young forward," President Javier Leon said in a statement. "We were able to watch him at the combine and we're excited to have him join us in preseason camp."

A left-footed midfielder, Atouba is a former member of the African nation's youth national team and played in the 2011 Under-20 FIFA World Cup in Colombia as Cameroon reached the Round of 16 before falling to Mexico.

He most recently was with Rainbow FC Bamenda and also played for Cameroonian clubs Renaissance de Ngoumou and Canon de Yaounde, according to an MLS biography.

The Fire acquired the second-round pick, 30th overall, as part of Wednesday's trade with the Colorado Rapids that brought midfielder Jeff Larentowicz to Chicago.

Fire players and staff are scheduled to gather Friday at Toyota Park for medical examinations and depart Sunday for Florida to begin training for the upcoming MLS season.